AP PHOTOS: Vatican, Holy Land mark Palm Sunday

Palestinian Orthodox Christians celebrate Palm Sunday at Gaza's Church of Saint Porphyrius, named after the 5th century bishop of Gaza, in Gaza City, Sunday, April 13, 2014. Palm Sunday marks for Christians, Jesus Christ's entrance into Jerusalem, when his followers laid palm branches in his path. There are approximately 2500 Christians among an overall Palestinian population of more than 1.7 million in Gaza. (AP Photo/Hatem Moussa)
The Associated Press

Palestinian Orthodox Christians celebrate Palm Sunday at Gaza's Church of Saint Porphyrius, named after the 5th century bishop of Gaza, in Gaza City, Sunday, April 13, 2014. Palm Sunday marks for Christians, Jesus Christ's entrance into Jerusalem, when his followers laid palm branches in his path. There are approximately 2500 Christians among an overall Palestinian population of more than 1.7 million in Gaza. (AP Photo/Hatem Moussa)

Orthodox Christian worshipers pray in the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, traditionally believed by many to be the site of the crucifixion and burial of Jesus Christ, during Palm Sunday services in Jerusalem's Old city,Sunday, April 13, 2014. Palm Sunday marks for Christians, Jesus Christ's entrance into Jerusalem, when his followers laid palm branches in his path, prior to his crucifixion. (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit)The Associated Press

Orthodox Christian worshipers pray in the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, traditionally believed by many to be the site of the crucifixion and burial of Jesus Christ, during Palm Sunday services in Jerusalem's Old city,Sunday, April 13, 2014. Palm Sunday marks for Christians, Jesus Christ's entrance into Jerusalem, when his followers laid palm branches in his path, prior to his crucifixion. (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit)

Penitents take part in the procession during Palm Sunday, prior to Spain Holy Week, in Pamplona, northern Spain, Sunday April 13, 2014. Spanish devoted Catholics take part in a lot of religious ceremonies during Holy Week. (AP Photo/Alvaro Barrientos)The Associated Press

Penitents take part in the procession during Palm Sunday, prior to Spain Holy Week, in Pamplona, northern Spain, Sunday April 13, 2014. Spanish devoted Catholics take part in a lot of religious ceremonies during Holy Week. (AP Photo/Alvaro Barrientos)

Penitents take part in a procession during Palm Sunday, prior to Spain Holy Week, in Pamplona, northern Spain, Sunday April 13, 2014. Spain's devoted Catholics take part in a lot of religious ceremonies during Holy Week. (AP Photo/Alvaro Barrientos)The Associated Press

Penitents take part in a procession during Palm Sunday, prior to Spain Holy Week, in Pamplona, northern Spain, Sunday April 13, 2014. Spain's devoted Catholics take part in a lot of religious ceremonies during Holy Week. (AP Photo/Alvaro Barrientos)

EDS NOTE : SPANISH LAW REQUIRES THAT THE FACES OF MINORS ARE MASKED IN PUBLICATIONS WITHIN SPAIN. A priest holds a palm branch while a young boy tries to catch it, right, during Palm Sunday, prior to Holy Week, in Pamplona, northern Spain, Sunday April 13, 2014. Spain's devoted Catholics take part in a lot of religious ceremonies during Holy Week. (AP Photo/Alvaro Barrientos)The Associated Press

EDS NOTE : SPANISH LAW REQUIRES THAT THE FACES OF MINORS ARE MASKED IN PUBLICATIONS WITHIN SPAIN. A priest holds a palm branch while a young boy tries to catch it, right, during Palm Sunday, prior to Holy Week, in Pamplona, northern Spain, Sunday April 13, 2014. Spain's devoted Catholics take part in a lot of religious ceremonies during Holy Week. (AP Photo/Alvaro Barrientos)

Ethiopian Orthodox Christian women pray at Deir El Sultan in the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, traditionally believed by many to be the site of the crucifixion and burial of Jesus Christ, during Palm Sunday services in Jerusalem's Old City, Sunday, April 13, 2014. Palm Sunday marks for Christians, Jesus Christ's entrance into Jerusalem, when his followers laid palm branches in his path, prior to his crucifixion. (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit)The Associated Press

Ethiopian Orthodox Christian women pray at Deir El Sultan in the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, traditionally believed by many to be the site of the crucifixion and burial of Jesus Christ, during Palm Sunday services in Jerusalem's Old City, Sunday, April 13, 2014. Palm Sunday marks for Christians, Jesus Christ's entrance into Jerusalem, when his followers laid palm branches in his path, prior to his crucifixion. (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit)

An Ethiopian Orthodox Christian priest holds a holy book for women to kiss at Deir El Sultan in the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, traditionally believed by many to be the site of the crucifixion and burial of Jesus Christ, during Palm Sunday services in Jerusalem's Old city, Sunday, April 13, 2014. Palm Sunday marks for Christians, Jesus Christ's entrance into Jerusalem, when his followers laid palm branches in his path, prior to his crucifixion. (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit)The Associated Press

An Ethiopian Orthodox Christian priest holds a holy book for women to kiss at Deir El Sultan in the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, traditionally believed by many to be the site of the crucifixion and burial of Jesus Christ, during Palm Sunday services in Jerusalem's Old city, Sunday, April 13, 2014. Palm Sunday marks for Christians, Jesus Christ's entrance into Jerusalem, when his followers laid palm branches in his path, prior to his crucifixion. (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit)

Egyptians celebrate Palm Sunday during a service in the Samaan el-Kharaz Church in the Mokattam district of Cairo, Egypt, Sunday, April 13, 2014. For Christians worldwide, Palm Sunday marks Jesus Christ's entrance into Jerusalem, when his followers laid palm branches in his path, prior to his crucifixion. (AP Photo/Roger Anis, El Shorouk) EGYPT OUTThe Associated Press

Egyptians celebrate Palm Sunday during a service in the Samaan el-Kharaz Church in the Mokattam district of Cairo, Egypt, Sunday, April 13, 2014. For Christians worldwide, Palm Sunday marks Jesus Christ's entrance into Jerusalem, when his followers laid palm branches in his path, prior to his crucifixion. (AP Photo/Roger Anis, El Shorouk) EGYPT OUT

Britain's Prince William, right, and his wife Kate, the Duchess of Cambridge, center, are accompanied by the Dean of St. Paul's Cathedral, the Very Rev. Trevor James, left, after a Palm Sunday service at the Cathedral in Dunedin, New Zealand, Sunday, April 13, 2014. The royal couple are on an official visit to New Zealand. (AP Photo/Gerrard O'Brien, Pool)The Associated Press

Britain's Prince William, right, and his wife Kate, the Duchess of Cambridge, center, are accompanied by the Dean of St. Paul's Cathedral, the Very Rev. Trevor James, left, after a Palm Sunday service at the Cathedral in Dunedin, New Zealand, Sunday, April 13, 2014. The royal couple are on an official visit to New Zealand. (AP Photo/Gerrard O'Brien, Pool)

The three years old Thomas Haitzmann eats a "Palmbrezeln" after a Palm Sunday procession in Lofer, Austrian province of Salzburg, Sunday, April 13, 2014. Palm Sunday opens the Holy Week which ends with Easter Sunday, the most important Christian holiday. (AP Photo/Kerstin Joensson)The Associated Press

The three years old Thomas Haitzmann eats a "Palmbrezeln" after a Palm Sunday procession in Lofer, Austrian province of Salzburg, Sunday, April 13, 2014. Palm Sunday opens the Holy Week which ends with Easter Sunday, the most important Christian holiday. (AP Photo/Kerstin Joensson)

A Filipino boy participates in Palm Sunday rites outside the Holy Family Parish Church in Quezon city, north of Manila, Philippines on Sunday, April 13, 2014. Palm Sunday marks the triumphant entry of Jesus Christ into Jerusalem and ushers in the Holy Week observance among Catholics worldwide. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)The Associated Press

A Filipino boy participates in Palm Sunday rites outside the Holy Family Parish Church in Quezon city, north of Manila, Philippines on Sunday, April 13, 2014. Palm Sunday marks the triumphant entry of Jesus Christ into Jerusalem and ushers in the Holy Week observance among Catholics worldwide. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)

An Indian Christian girl holds a cross made of blessed palm during a Palm Sunday mass at a church in Bhubaneswar, India, Sunday, April 13, 2014. Palm Sunday's liturgy recalls Jesus' triumphant entry into Jerusalem. (AP Photo/Biswaranjan Rout)The Associated Press

An Indian Christian girl holds a cross made of blessed palm during a Palm Sunday mass at a church in Bhubaneswar, India, Sunday, April 13, 2014. Palm Sunday's liturgy recalls Jesus' triumphant entry into Jerusalem. (AP Photo/Biswaranjan Rout)

In this aerial photo, Orthodox priests and believers participate in the Palm Sunday procession around the St. Isaak's Cathedral in St. Petersburg, Russia, Sunday, April 13, 2014. Palm Sunday commemorates Jesus Christ's triumphant entry into Jerusalem, and is the start of the Christian Holy Week. (AP Photo/Dmitry Lovetsky)The Associated Press

In this aerial photo, Orthodox priests and believers participate in the Palm Sunday procession around the St. Isaak's Cathedral in St. Petersburg, Russia, Sunday, April 13, 2014. Palm Sunday commemorates Jesus Christ's triumphant entry into Jerusalem, and is the start of the Christian Holy Week. (AP Photo/Dmitry Lovetsky)

Palestinian Orthodox Christians celebrate Palm Sunday at Gaza's Church of Saint Porphyrius, named after the 5th century bishop of Gaza, in Gaza City, Sunday, April 13, 2014. Palm Sunday marks for Christians, Jesus Christ's entrance into Jerusalem, when his followers laid palm branches in his path. There are approximately 2500 Christians among an overall Palestinian population of more than 1.7 million in Gaza. (AP Photo/Hatem Moussa)The Associated Press

Palestinian Orthodox Christians celebrate Palm Sunday at Gaza's Church of Saint Porphyrius, named after the 5th century bishop of Gaza, in Gaza City, Sunday, April 13, 2014. Palm Sunday marks for Christians, Jesus Christ's entrance into Jerusalem, when his followers laid palm branches in his path. There are approximately 2500 Christians among an overall Palestinian population of more than 1.7 million in Gaza. (AP Photo/Hatem Moussa)

EDS NOTE : SPANISH LAW REQUIRES THAT THE FACES OF MINORS ARE MASKED IN PUBLICATIONS WITHIN SPAIN. Several children hold palms tree during Palm Sunday, prior to Spain Holy Week, in Pamplona, northern Spain, Sunday April 13, 2014. Spanish devoted Catholics take part on a lot of religious ceremonies during Holy Week. (AP Photo/Alvaro Barrientos)The Associated Press

EDS NOTE : SPANISH LAW REQUIRES THAT THE FACES OF MINORS ARE MASKED IN PUBLICATIONS WITHIN SPAIN. Several children hold palms tree during Palm Sunday, prior to Spain Holy Week, in Pamplona, northern Spain, Sunday April 13, 2014. Spanish devoted Catholics take part on a lot of religious ceremonies during Holy Week. (AP Photo/Alvaro Barrientos)

An elderly woman lights a fire in a cemetery during a Palm Sunday memorial for the departed in Herasti, southern Romania, early Sunday, April 13, 2014. Orthodox believers in the village gather at midnight, light fires at the graves and share food in memory of their dead relatives. This year the country's Orthodox majority celebrates Easter along with the Catholics on April 20.(AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)The Associated Press

An elderly woman lights a fire in a cemetery during a Palm Sunday memorial for the departed in Herasti, southern Romania, early Sunday, April 13, 2014. Orthodox believers in the village gather at midnight, light fires at the graves and share food in memory of their dead relatives. This year the country's Orthodox majority celebrates Easter along with the Catholics on April 20.(AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)

An elderly woman feeds a fire in a cemetery during a Palm Sunday memorial for the departed in Herasti, southern Romania, early Sunday, April 13, 2014. Orthodox believers in the village gather at midnight, light fires at the graves and share food in memory of their dead relatives. This year the country's Orthodox majority celebrates Easter along with the Catholics on April 20.(AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)The Associated Press

An elderly woman feeds a fire in a cemetery during a Palm Sunday memorial for the departed in Herasti, southern Romania, early Sunday, April 13, 2014. Orthodox believers in the village gather at midnight, light fires at the graves and share food in memory of their dead relatives. This year the country's Orthodox majority celebrates Easter along with the Catholics on April 20.(AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)

Around the world, Christians are marking Palm Sunday with waving fronds, processions and prayer.

Palm Sunday commemorates Jesus' entry into Jerusalem, when palm branches were strewn before him, before his crucifixion.

At the Vatican, Pope Francis ignored his prepared homily and spoke entirely off-the-cuff in a remarkable departure from practice. Later, he hopped off his popemobile to pose for "selfies" with young people in the crowd.

In Jerusalem, worshippers prayed at Deir El Sultan in the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, traditionally believed to be the site of the crucifixion and burial of Jesus.